Tools for the task. Food for the journey. Weapons for the war. Whichever analogy most aptly describes your walk with Christ, the principle remains: we can’t keep going without sustenance. Supplies. Resources. If I had a dime for every time I’ve seen a new believer come alive in Christ, full of awe and childlike wonder, only to suffer starvation of the soul for lack of spiritual direction and nourishment, I might have enough for a down payment on The Story’s new home. The bottom line is this: we need to do a better job of making great Christian resources known to those who are exploring the faith. With that in mind, I will share and write descriptions of five resources that I frequently turn to for support and sustenance. At the bottom of this email, I’ll also give you five bonus resources that regularly fill my cup. I hope you find these helpful and that you will reply to this email with other great resources you’ve enjoyed. Finally, I hope you’ll share this list with others in your sphere of influence who may be “spiritually starving.” Thanks!1. The One Minute Pause App by Ransomed Heart Busyness and constant distractions are perhaps the biggest stumbling blocks in my path toward spiritual growth. If you’ve felt the same way along your journey with Jesus, the One Minute Pause app is a great way to “set my mind on things above” (Colossians 3:2) and to align my thoughts with the mind of Christ (Philippians 2:5-8). Admittedly, I’ve never been drawn to contemplative prayer or guided meditation; in fact, I’ve always had a strong aversion to anyone telling me how to pray or to being led through a “canned” prayer ritual. But there’s something about John Eldridge’s voice, along with the music, visuals, and scriptures that he chooses, that really makes this app work for me. I also love having the option of reflections ranging from 1 to 10 minutes or more. The app is free, and since signing up, I haven’t been inundated with unwanted emails or sales pitches. If you’re looking for a consistent way to center your mind and heart on Jesus every day, I hope you’ll check it out!2. GOSPEL in LIFE: Sermons by Timothy KellerEver since I first read Tim Keller’s book, The Reason for God, in the days following my conversion to Christianity in 2013, I’ve felt a deep, emotional bond with his work. From his many books to his excellent sermons (most of which he delivered at Redeemer Church in NYC between 2000-2013), Keller has a unique way of explaining the Bible that is simultaneously intellectual and inspirational. Every time that he preaches, he’s always prepared, always profound, and always faithful to Scripture. There’s really no one else like him. Since last year, when Keller announced that he’d been diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer, I’ve felt even more inclined to draw from the deep well of his body of work. These 40-50 minute sermons are great to listen to while exercising, walking the dogs, or hanging out with Christian friends and family.3. Reasonable Faith: Videos, Writings, and Q&A feat. Dr. William Lane CraigNo surprise here, right? I’ve made no secret of my deep admiration for Dr. Craig’s work in the field of Christian apologetics. As I mentioned when Dr. Craig spoke at The Story last month, leading atheist philosophers like Sam Harris have referred to him as “the only Christian alive who can put the fear of God” in them! His books are great (especially On Guard), and so are his other writings, but as far as I’m concerned, nothing compares to Dr. Craig’s video debates with atheist scholars. 4. “Family Teams” ResourcesThis was a relatively new “find” for me, as I was only introduced to this project launched by Jeremy and April Pryor and Jefferson and Alyssa Bethke. Their mission is to help people to see their family as a multigenerational team on a mission together. The truth is that most people today think that the family exists to successfully launch their kids into the world, where they “go out and find themselves.” This approach to family is wildly unbiblical and dangerous, as it leaves the question of our identity and purpose to be determined by our peers and our careers. The resources offered on their website and at their in-person Family Teams events are unique and on-point for today’s fast-moving, ever-changing world. I recently interviewed Jeremy Pryor about how, by changing our understanding of a family’s mission, we can also change our family’s direction. Check it out on the Maybe God Podcast YouTube channel. Speaking of the Maybe God Podcast…5. Maybe God Podcast (Website)Again, it will come as a shock to no one that I’ve included Maybe God on this list. It’s a shameless plug, I know, but we just have too many awesome things happening over at Maybe God to not share it with the world. Our team, led by TSC’s Media Director Julie Mirlicourtois and yours truly, has committed to cranking out new content on a weekly basis – including full length episode’s like this week’s show on ANGELS and unedited interviews with special guests such as addiction specialist (featured on Netflix’s The Social Dilemma) Dr. Anna Lembke, TSC leader and former contestant on The Bachelorette Cam Ayala, Country Music legend Randy Travis, and so much more. And heads up, y’all: our next full-length Podcast episode is due out on November 30, and it’s all about demons. Be sure to subscribe to Maybe God on Apple Podcasts so you don’t miss it!Here are five more BONUS resources that frequently fuel my faith journey. Check them out, and I hope you find them helpful! 1. Sermons by legendary preacher Dr. Tony Evans2. What Does the Bible Say About… Run Exhaustive Searches of the Bible by Topic3. Questioning God: Answers to Questions Worth Asking, book by John Hopper4. Then God Moved Inspiring, Story-based content – Instagram and Website5. The Brilliant Dr. James Tour’s YouTube Channel and PodcastFinally, friends, remember to “reply” to this email and let me know what helpful Christian resources I missed. Thank you, thank God for you, and Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.
